On a recent trip to Chicago with my oldest son, we discovered the Power of 10 for creating a great public space. The space? Millennium Park, an extraordinary outdoor space that attracts 3 million visitors a year and has been recognized as one of the best public spaces in the country. There is something for people of all ages to discover and explore in this park, which was built on top of a railroad yard and parking garages. Our favorite discovery was the interactive public art, at both the Crown Fountain and the Cloud Gate sculpture.
The Power of 10 was discussed last month in a fabulous
article from the Urban Times on "10 Ways to Improve Your City through Public Space." (Thanks to my friend Terry for sharing this article). The concept is simple: to create a great public space, make sure it provides at least 10 different things to attract people to that space.
At the end of our visit to Millennium Park, we rented bikes in the park and set out on 2 wheels to explore the lakefront area next to downtown Chicago. Other than the lakefront route, the options for cycling safely with kids through and around downtown Chicago were somewhat limited as far as we could tell, but the lakefront route provides for miles and miles of wonderful safe cycling with children.
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Millennium Park's Crown Fountain showing video clips of local residents
and providing a water play are for children in the summer months |
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| Millennium Park's Cloud Gate sculpture, referred to as "The Bean" |
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| Close up of The Bean in Millennium Park |
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| McDonald Cycle Center in Millennium Park |
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| McDonald's Cycle Center in Millennium Park |
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| Headed out on bikes from Millennium Park |
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| Cycling along the lakefront in Chicago |
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